mansur gavriel — BLOG — CAITLIN MIYAKO TAYLOR

Gifting season has begun, and every year I try to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list. While you can find beautiful items at everyday stores, it's harder to find unique pieces that will be extra special for your friends and family. This year I've centered my gift guides around independent designers. These brands not only create stunning and one-of-a-kind pieces, but are also more environmentally conscious, and even do their part to give back. One of my favorite brands from this list is Kotn — they source their extraordinary textiles ethically in Egypt, and are partnered with an organization there to build schools. So while you're shopping this holiday season you can find gifts that not only bring happiness to their recipients, but also to those who make them.

1. Wet Eyewear - perfect for vacation
2. KowTow - collect your art, and wear it too
3. ISM - a smart backpack that's perfect for freelance creatives
4. Kotn - sustainable and beautiful basics
5. Common Projects - a classic shoe with a hint of silver
6. Amarilo - timeless jewelry perfect for any occasion
7. Which We Want - the slashed and asymmetrical sweater you didn't know you need
8. Anthropologie - when was the last time you found your keys easily in your bag?
9. Janessa Leone - keep your head warm, or just stylish
10. Mansur Gavriel - the perfect shade of red
11. Tamara Mellon - the perfect pair of luxe ankle boots
12. Cords & Co - the coolest trucker you'll ever own
13. Alumnae NYC - everyone needs a pair of metallic boots
14. Laer - the cooler moto

September is upon us. This month, I'll turn 20 (does this birthday even count, since it's not 21?), and figure out how to balance school, work, and blogging (all on 6 hours of sleep, max). Maybe this mood board is slightly muted because of the twinge of dread I feel when I think about the fact that I was in class today from 7:25-10:35am, then again from 1:40-6:30pm. I am, however, very excited about the challenging schedule I've taken on this semester, and I can't wait to see what I'm able to accomplish.

Fall begins in the latter half of this month. Am I thrilled about this? Absolutely. Not only does "Fall" (I put that in quotations because I know it will probably be 85º for most of the month) mean outerwear (one of my favorite wardrobe categories), but it also means the start of the holiday season. September means October is right around the corner, which means Halloween is coming, which will be immediately followed by Thanksgiving, and then my favorite holiday of all, Christmas. Though these next few months will most likely fly by, I hope I have some leisure time to discover, and subscribe to, new fashion and lifestyle publications. I need to fill my room with more inspiration (No, I'm not a hoarder. I just want to surround myself with cool content that will allow me to continue to produce high-quality images to my Instagram and website). If you know of any awesome mags, please let me know!

I'm also always on-the-go, so I would love to invest in a fashionable and functional backpack, like this mini backpack by Mansur Gavriel. Simply constructed, this beautiful piece is the perfect carry-all for both academic and professional endeavors. Running around also means I should probably select a piece of footwear that's more ergonomic than my Adilette Slides, as much as I am obsessed with them. I'm thinking of finally hopping on the New Balance train and purchasing a super cool pair of neutral-colored lace-up sneakers that will go with everything from jeans and a t-shirt, to a slip dress and longline coat.